Legacy of Colonel F.W. Toll, DSO, VD

In the 1930's Frederick Toll donated a large collection maps and papers to the State Library of Queensland, it is through this collection that we can uncover his significant career as a citizen-soldier.

Whilst a young accountant Fred Toll joined the Kennedy Regiment in Charters Towers, where he was commissioned on 2 February 1892 and promoted Captain in 1897.

In January 1900, Toll sailed with the 2nd Queensland Contingent for service in the Second Boer War, where he joined in the attempted occupation of South Africa; he returned home in December 1900.

Cloth map, annotated, Transvaal & surrounding Territories, 1899. OM70-43 Item 49

Not ten years later he again volunteered to lead the 3rd Battalion, Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Forces (AN&MEF) to occupy German Papua New Guinea. His papers detail the daily routine of the Garrison forces, and surveillance of the civilian population

Correspondence, Battalion Orders. OM70-43

Corporal F.V. Toll, killed in action Gallipoli 8.8.1915

31st Recorder, v.1 no.1 1915

The 31st Battalion under the command of Fred Toll fought at Fromelles in July 1916 (where he earned the DSO), Bapaume in March 1917 and Polygon Wood that September.

Toll having been seriously injured and gassed at the Battle of Polygon Wood, was evacuated to England in January 1918, where he served out the remainder of his appointment.

National Archives of Australia, F.W. Toll

 Further reading

• Service Record, Frederick William Toll
• Image F.W. Toll: NAA
• Image F.V. Toll, The Queenslander Pictorial
• Unit Diaries, 31st Battalion August 1915
• Australian Dictionary of Biography, Frederick William Toll
• OM70-43 Colonel Frederick William Toll Papers 1900-1918 - Maps and documents relating to the Boer War and World War I campaigns in New Guinea, France and Egypt.
• OM64-31/4 Fredrick William Toll 1900-1901 - Papers relating to the Second Boer War
• OM84-11 Major F. W. Toll Diary 1901-1902 - The diary details events from the arrival of troops in South Africa on 1 April 1901 until 8 May 1902 when the troops were paid off. The diary is accompanied by maps showing the movements of the unit while attached to General H. Plumber's column.
• M930 F. W. Toll papers
  Includes original editions of The Wandilla Wonder vol. 1-4 and The 31st Recorder vol.1 no.1.
• 'Fight near Waakeestroom' The North Queensland Register, 3 March 1902, p.28
• 'Sudden death of Mrs F.W. Toll' The North Queensland Register, 11 March 1901, p.52